Average wedding cost in California
Updated Oct 16, 2026
A wedding in California costs about $34,500 to $51,700 (Zola Wedding Cost Index, March 2026). Nationally, couples spent $34,000 on average (The Knot 2026).
$323 a guest
- Venue and rentals$8,591
- Catering and drinks$7,000
- Music and entertainment$2,454
- Flowers and decor$2,454
- Photography$1,841
- Everything else$9,960
Merriwell estimate for California
| Guests | Estimate | Range |
|---|---|---|
| 50 | $24,600 | $19,700 to $29,500 |
| 100 | $32,300 | $25,800 to $38,700 |
| 150 | $40,000 | $32,000 to $48,000 |
The sum: $16,450 plus $150 a guest, times 102.6%, California's price level for services against the US average (US Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024). 20% either side for the range.
Los Angeles
Zola's figure for a 150-guest wedding in Los Angeles is $66,832 (March 2026), well above the state as a whole.
A typical split
| Venue and rentals | 28% | $9,044 |
| Catering and drinks | 23% | $7,429 |
| Cake and desserts | 1% | $323 |
| Photography | 6% | $1,938 |
| Videography | 4% | $1,292 |
| Music and entertainment | 8% | $2,584 |
| Flowers and decor | 8% | $2,584 |
| Dress, tux or suit | 4% | $1,292 |
| Hair and makeup | 1% | $323 |
| Wedding rings | 5% | $1,615 |
| Invitations and paper | 1% | $323 |
| Officiant and marriage license | 1% | $323 |
| Transportation | 2% | $646 |
| Wedding planner | 4% | $1,292 |
| Favors and gifts | 1% | $323 |
| Tips | 3% | $969 |
Merriwell's starting split (a blend of The Knot's 2026 figures), applied to our 100-guest estimate.
Marriage license in California
- Fee
- Set by each county. Sonoma County charges $82 for a public license and $98 for a confidential one.
- Valid for
- 90 days
Check with your county clerk: fees and rules change, and many are set by each county. We checked Sonoma County Clerk-Recorder on Oct 16, 2026.
The busiest and the cheapest times
Saturday evenings cost the most. A winter weekend or a weekday can save 20-30% on most vendor costs (Zola, March 2026). Ask your venue for its off-peak prices.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a wedding cost in California?
- Zola's Wedding Cost Index puts a California wedding at $34,500 to $51,700 (Zola, March 2026). The Merriwell estimate for 100 guests in California is about $32,300.
- How much does a wedding for 100 guests cost in California?
- About $32,300 by the Merriwell estimate ($25,800 to $38,700): a fixed part plus $150 a guest, times California's price level for services, 102.6% of the US average (US Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024).
- How much is a marriage license in California?
- Set by each county. Sonoma County charges $82 for a public license and $98 for a confidential one. Fees can change, so check with your county clerk. We checked Sonoma County Clerk-Recorder on Oct 16, 2026.
- Is there a waiting period to get married in California?
- Ask your county clerk: rules on waiting periods and how long a license lasts are set by state law and applied locally.
- How can we spend less on a wedding in California?
- Fewer guests makes the biggest difference. Zola says a winter weekend or a weekday can save 20-30% on most vendor costs, and that Saturday evenings cost the most (March 2026).
Average wedding cost in every state
Sources
- Zola Wedding Cost Index, Zola, Mar 6, 2026. Zola's own planning data and a survey of 720 couples. Checked Oct 16, 2026.
- Regional Price Parities by State, 2024 (Services: other): California (FRED series CARPPSERVEOTH), US Bureau of Economic Analysis, Feb 19, 2026. Prices in each state against the US average (100), 2024. Checked Oct 16, 2026.
- The Knot 2026 Real Weddings Study, The Knot Worldwide, Feb 18, 2026. More than 10,000 US couples married in 2025. Checked Oct 16, 2026.